plan by unitsBy lvtching

First of all, I do a lot of my planning during the summer. I plan by units...on notebook paper. I use Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, etc...instead of specific dates. Then I plug in around the unpredictable assemblies, interruptions, and such. I won't write in my lesson plan book until right before school starts. I also usually add a "Catch Up" day or two in case something else does come up. My lesson plan specifically says "Catch Up."

I only teach Social Studies, Math, and Spelling--also in fifth grade. I plan social studies by the units in the book. I use Saxon math...so it's somewhat laid out for me...but I do a lot of supplementing too...so I have topics for the most part. Once again, I do Day 1, 2, 3 on notebook paper and then plug in before school starts.

Spelling is pretty much set for me. I always introduce the unit on
Thursdays, and we have the test the following Wednesday (which gives them the weekend to study too.) I have also given them four lists at one time--to keep in their organizational binder--that way they can start studying wednesday night if they prefer and they have the lists for the next four weeks. I try to have some type of activity for each day--thursday is usually writing them a certain number of times or putting them in ABC order, Friday is usually word study and editing for spelling, Mondays we usually work with partners or groups on an activity, and Tuesday we do a review game. If the parents know that you will have a test every Wednesday, this will help.

Like I said, most of the planning I do over the summer--which is less work for me during the school year obviously--and everything is chunked out for the blocks of time, you just have to plug them in where it fits.